Page 23 of Savage Desires

I hate leaving Willow in the room, even though I know she's safer staying behind. I don't want my eyes off her for a minute. At least not until I get her out of this place. I return to the third room. The man in there is roughly the same height as me. He's not as muscular, but beggars can't be choosers. Hopefully, the people that run the mansion will be so pissed off that they won't believe him when he tells them he isn't me.

Luckily, the cabinets and drawers are unlocked, so I quickly remove the items I took from my assigned room. Replacing them will further the ruse and point suspension away from me. I quickly take the items to my room and dump them on the bed. The guard is wriggling and grunting, but I ignore him. I return to my fall guy's room and pick him up, carrying him to my assigned room.

The guard is now struggling against the ropes while saliva drips down his face as he screams around the ball gag. Seeing him in such a humiliating position is satisfying. I drop my burden on the floor and put my mask on him. I have a brief moment of regret for damaging the mask before punching him with more force than necessary. The mask cracks, adding to the narrative that I was attacked like the other men before my prize was stolen.

I return the leather mask to its home and pull on the man's silver and black mask. I quickly put the items from the other room away so that it looks like nothing was disturbed. The guard continues to yell while I set the scene. When I have everything in place, I glare down at the guard.

"You're coming with me. I strongly suggest you cooperate. You won't like the consequences of pissing me off more than I already am. I will take great pleasure in expressing my anger, so don't fucking test me."

I let down the veil I keep up so the world doesn't see the monster lurking just beneath my surface. He immediately stops yelling. He's smarter than I thought. Though, when your own death looks you in the eye, survival tends to win out. Especially when you're weak like this man. I cut the ropes around his ankles and yank him to his feet.

I push him out the door into the hallway, keeping a firm grip on the back of his neck. The women huddle together in one corner of the room. It's not lost on me that Willow is standing in front of them, her knife at the ready. She's fucking beautiful. Delicate like a fairy, yet fierce like a Valkyrie.

"Time to go, ladies. Scotty Boy is going to assist us on our way out." I tighten my hold on his neck, making him groan. "Isn't that right, Scott?"

He quickly nods his agreement.

"Good boy. Don't forget our little talk. I don't like repeating myself."

He nods again.

I hold the door open for the women. Willow leads them out into the hall. They line up along the wall, with Lexis in the lead. Willow looks up at me. Her eyes are blue fire, lit with determination.

"I'll guard the back," she says.

I want to say absolutely not and pull her to the front of the line with me, but if anyone were to try to sneak up on us, she's the only one of the women capable of protecting our backs. I hate it even though it's the best call. It goes against every fiber in my being to put her at risk.

"If anything happens, call out. Don't be a hero and sacrifice yourself."

Her lips tilt up in a small smile. "I won't. I'll yell if anything happens."

"Good girl," I murmur.

For the first time, I see her eyes widen from pleasure, not fear, and it's a heady sight. I trace a line down her cheek with my fingertip, savoring this stolen moment. She doesn't move an inch as I touch her like she's just as captivated with me as I am with her. Possessiveness boils up inside me. I can't stop the voice inside me that's screaming that she's mine.

The security guard wrongly assumes I'm distracted and attempts to break my hold on him. I shove him against the wall harder than necessary, but I'm pissed he interrupted my moment.

"Consider that love tap your only reminder, asshole."

I drag him to the front of the line and follow Lexis's instructions to a staircase that will lead us to the staff quarters where the women who live at the mansion stay when there aren't parties being held. We don't encounter anyone on our way down. Lexis opens the door so that if anyone is in the hallway, they won't question why she's there. I hate putting her out in the open, but it's the wisest decision.

A minute passes, then two, before Lexis appears again. "It's clear all the way to the backdoor," she whispers, out of breath.

I follow her into the hallway, waiting until Willow appears before moving ahead. The path to the backdoor is deserted. I'm guessing the party is still in full swing downstairs, which works for our benefit.

"There will be at least one guard outside the door," Lexis murmurs. "Sometimes two during parties."

"One or two guards?" I growl my question at the guard I'm taking with us.

He says something behind the ball gag that sounds like one. "One?" I ask for clarity. He nods his head.

"Beauty, come here."

Willow is immediately by my side, waiting for instructions like a perfect soldier. God, she's fucking perfect.

"I need you to stay here with the girls and the guard while I handle whoever is outside this door. Do you know how to shoot a gun?"

She licks her lips and shakes her head. "N-no. I've never…"

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